Any good places to hire out on a Sunday?( for a 1st Birthday/Baptism)

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

My son will be celebrating his first birthday on a Sunday and getting baptised on the day also. Does anyone know of any kids friendly places to hire on a Sunday? The Magnolia does not hire out their function room on a Sunday.

There is roughly going to be about 15-20 adults and 7 children maximum. I need floor space for my son to crawl/toddle about.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

[fearnpw1]

There's a function room at The Herne Tavern - they'll also cater if you need them to.

[missd]

We hired the barn at the back of the garden at the herne tavern for exactly the same reason -joint birthday and christening. Was great - we set up one section of the room with toys and a big floor mat for the babies and the rest was for the adults. You also get three or four of the outdoor tables there too. Great venue, good food and excellent service. Would highly recommend.

[ladywotlunches]

My new favourite place is the Dulwich Wood House - they have a conservatory/covered deck area that works well for this - and last time we were there on a Sunday, there was a Christening party happening. They are very family friendly too. (and parking is much easier round there if you will be needing that)

Personally I think The Herne is overrated, especially as the kids get older and actually want to eat there - a very limited menu for the little ones. Once we went in and the kids option was linguine with parmesan. Which was exactly that - some boiled pasta with grated cheese on top. Hardly balanced! It was a while ago though. Although saying that, whenever I go there the kitchen seems to be shut so we end up somewhere else.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Thanks for the replies ladies. I did hear the Herne was very good but I checked the menu online and my son cannot have dairy so cheese on pasta would not be good and I don't really want to give him chips and chicken on a special day either, I was hoping for things like fish and pasta etc. Does anyone know if they will do a different menu if we ask?

The Dulwich Wood house has been slated on here, I have never been, it does look good but as a lot of people do not rate it, I crossed it off my list. Is the food nice there?

[Fuschia]

We had our twins naming ceremony at the community ctre in Darrell Rd and did our own food, has an outdoor space too.

[standswithfist]

HeidiHi - I also held my daughter's birthday at the Barn at the Herne. We had our own menu - why don't you give them a call and ask them what they could do? I thought they were great and helped me have a good day for her first birthday (attended by young and old).

BTW - I am not affiliated to the Herne in anyway I just thought they were great and at the time (year ago) was the best venue for kids/babies/mums and dads.

[Fuschia]

My SIL booked at the herne for her 60th birthday and they were awful, very rude and had her in tears. I wouldn't rely on them at all for an important family event, I'm afraid.

[Fuschia]

There is a room upstairs at the Magnolia. I find the staff there really ARE family friendly and helpful.

I wouldn't spend my money at the Herne having seen the contempt they seem to have for some of their customers!

[standswithfist]

The Magnolia does not hire out their function room on a Sunday. - as per first post.

[ladywotlunches]

The food at the Wood House is good pub fare - they have a list of menus for both functions and just generally on their website: dulwichwoodhouse.com. Its not as 'gastro' as the Herne, but kids tend not to like such high-falutin tastes anyway!!

I know that it has been slated on here - which is probably why it took me so long to go there. But whether it took them time to settle in as new owners or something, or people just don't like change, I've found it really good on the occasions I have been.

Perhaps pop in one day/evening. With an under 1, if they sleep in the buggy of an evening, you could even take them with you and have a night out - have seen other couples doing the same which has caused no problem to the pub (which perhaps is why people who don't have kids have gone off it :) )

Oh - and I have no affiliation with it either. Just new to me, so quite keen to share the good news!

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

It sounds like it is a mixed bag, for every person that likes a place, another person is against it.

I did actually fill in an enquiry form a while back on the Herne website as well as emailing them but they never got back to me ( which I thought was rude)but I will contact them again . I have had a look at Dulwich Wood's online and they look fabulous, I am just worried about the food as I have yet to hear one person say the food is worth going for.

The Magnolia would have been perfect but alas they only hire Monday to Thursday.

I don't really have enough people to hire out a community centre and I won't be having an entertainer so I don't feel I can hire the community centre ( I am sure I will be using it often when my son is older!).

No more decent/child friendly pubs in the area?!

[jac428]

We had our twins first birthday at the Herne and rented out the Barn. We planned our own menu and brought toys to create a play area for the younger kids by the sofas and it was great. Everyone had a wonderful time. We ordered cakes from the Herne and they were tasty as well as cute as both the chocolate and carrot cakes had with Winnie the Pooh on top, per our order. They can do other designs on request.

[ladywotlunches]

HeidiHi

I'd say go and try out the food yourself - see what you think. If nothing else, its an excuse to get out for a lunch/evening :)

Then if you like it you can speak to the manager and arrange things while you are there.

[Mellors]

We also had the Herne for R's christening and it was a nice space (and playground outside for the older ones). They will do a separate menu for you no problem (and don't forget you Mum can now do the cakes after she came to our Cupcake decorating workshop) :))

Mel

[missd]

I've just looked through my emails and found the food menu that the herne sent to us. I think the prices have increased since then. It's different to the menu at the pub itself

?8.50 Per Head

Sandwiches (white and brown bread)

Ham

Cheese

Egg mayonnaise

Chicken wings

Sausage rolls

Homemade Quiche

Goats cheese tart

Mixed salad

Buffet ?11.50 per person

Sausage rolls

Penne pasta salad

Mixed leaf salad

Potato salad

Goats? cheese and red onion tartlets

Goujons of fish, chips and home made tartar sauce

Sandwiches (white and brown bread)

Ham

Cheese

Tuna

Egg mayonnaise

Home made quiche Lorraine

Home made broccoli and stilton quiche

?6.50 children's party menu

Ham and cheese sandwiches

Scampi and chips

Organic chicken nuggets

Mini burgers

Mini cheese and tomato pizzas

Mini chocolate tarts

Children's food menu

Home made baked beans

Smoked haddock fish fingers

Free range chicken nuggets

Organic sausage

Linguini with tomato sauce

Goujons of white fish

Meatballs in tomato sauce

Breaded scampi

All with chips or peas

?4.50

Or

?6.00 with a single scoop of ice cream dessert

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

That is brilliant thank you! So there is more choices, glad to hear it as cheese on pasta for the special boy is just not right!

I shall get organising..though I think I will need a miracle as I have three weeks to get it all done.

[Dodo1]

Try The Grand Union in Camberwell Grove. They don't charge for hire and it is a vey nice venue.

[ludoscotts]

hi heidi, I have been to the dulwich wood house and the food is lovely, my gripe with the place was the price. The food was good but it was around ?13 for a sunday lunch and it was lovely but no nicer than anywhere else where you can get a sunday lunch for around ?8/9.

It is a lovely venue and setting(lovely big garden)and we sat in conservatory and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal there but just felt a little ripped off but would be wonderful for a special occassion.

[happymummy]

Hello,

I held my girl's christening party at Dulwich Wood House. All guests said food was great (fusion buffet) I didn't quite manage to eat much myself, unfortunately. The staff were great - v attentive. The bar can get busy so we pre-bought drinks which were left out on a table for people to help themselves. We used the conservatory/decking area which is semi enclosed and has a retractable roof. The weather was absolutely awful so the roof stayed on and we eventually moved the whole thing inside. The garden is great for children to have a run around and the conservatory area has a lovely soft floor ideal for toddlers.

It's worth a visit to check out and discuss your requirements.